When the lights go out, the first question is whose problem it is. The answer changes who you call and how fast anything gets fixed.
Step 1: Is it just you?
Look outside. Streetlights on? Neighbours lit? If the whole street is dark, it is a utility outage and an electrician cannot help. Report it and wait. If you are the only dark house, the problem is between the utility's connection and your panel — and that is ours.
Step 2: Check the main breaker
Open the panel door — not the cover, just the door — and look at the main breaker at the top. If it has tripped to the middle position, something caused it. You can reset it once. If it trips again immediately, stop and call (888) 633-7804.
Step 3: Partial outage? Check GFCIs
If some rooms work and others do not, walk the house pressing reset on every GFCI outlet you can find — garage, bathrooms, kitchen, exterior, sometimes the basement. A single tripped GFCI can take down a surprising chain of outlets downstream.
Step 4: Look for the half-house symptom
If roughly half your house is dead and the other half works, and lights in the working half are unusually bright or dim, you may have lost one of the two incoming legs. That is a service-side fault, often at the meter or the weatherhead, and it can damage appliances. Turn off the main and call immediately.
Step 5: Use your nose
Burning plastic, a fishy chemical smell, or anything hot near the panel means stop investigating. Get everyone out, call the fire department if there is smoke, and then call an emergency electrician.
While you wait
- Keep the fridge and freezer shut. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours unopened.
- Unplug sensitive electronics so a surge on restoration does not take them out.
- Leave one light switched on so you know the moment power returns.
- Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or plugged into a wall outlet. Use a proper transfer switch or inlet.
After the power is back
If the outage came with a bang, a flash, or the smell of something hot, have the panel and the affected circuits checked even if everything appears normal. Damage from a service-side fault often shows up as a slow failure weeks later.